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LAWSUIT ACCUSES BISHOP EDDIE LONG OF SEXUAL ABUSE

Lawsuit Accuses Bishop Eddie Long of Sexual Abuse

*CNN is reporting that two Georgia men have filed a lawsuit claiming that Atlanta megachurch pastor Eddie Long coerced them into sex.

The suits, filed Tuesday in DeKalb County, Georgia, allege that Long used his position as a spiritual authority and bishop to coerce young male members and employees of his New Birth Missionary Baptist Church into sex.

Long took one plaintiff, Anthony Flagg, 21, to overnight trips to a half dozen American cities, Flagg’s suit alleges.

“Long shared a bedroom and engaged in intimate sexual contact with plaintiff Flagg including kissing, massaging, masturbating of plaintiff Flagg by defendant Long and oral sexual contact,” the suit says.

Long spokesman Art Franklin said Tuesday that “we categorically deny the allegations.”

“It is very unfortunate that someone has taken this course of action,” he said. “Our law firm will be able to respond once attorneys have had an opportunity to review the lawsuit.”

The suits are seeking unspecified amounts of punitive damages from Long on various counts, ranging from negligence to breach of fiduciary duty.